From a Victorian tea to a coin minting, there are several events to choose from in Carson City this Valentine's Day. Here's the lowdown:
The Carson City Historical Society will mark the official seasonal opening of their Roberts House Museum Saturday with a Victorian Valentine Tea at noon on Saturday.
"We close right after Christmas then open up in February," sad the group's Paula Cannon. "Last year, I think we opened on Feb. 8, and this year it happens to be on the 14th."
The event will feature fresh-baked goods, including scones with berries and toppings such as Devonshire cream.
"There's another one with a raspberry cream - it's excellent," Cannon said.
The tea is a fund-raiser for the society. Tickets are $18. Call Cannon at 887-8865 to make reservations.
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Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, the Nevada State Museum will mint the first medallions dated 2004 on its historic Coin Press No. 1. The public is invited to watch the minting of both silver and brass medallions.
Two designs will be minted: the original state seal design used from 1866 through 1929, the one with smoke from the train going in one direction and the smoke from the quartz mill going in the other; and a Pony Express design.
This exact press minted its first coin on Feb. 11, 1870, in Carson City. It operated until the 1890s, then went to Philadelphia and San Francisco. The Nevada State Museum acquired the old press and returned it to Carson City in 1958.
The medallions will be $25. Minting will run until 3 p.m. The museum is at 600 N. Carson St. For more details, call 687-4810, ext. 239.
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Middle school students will dance on Saturday night from 7 to 10 p.m. at Carson City Community Center gym. Student ID cards will be required.
"This will give the kids a chance to have a fun evening with their friends," said Joyce Lancaster, who is organizing the dance for the Carson Recreation Division.
DJ Dan Kim will mix it up on the turntables, and snacks and beverages will be offered by the Boys & Girls Club.
Lancaster puts together about four or five dances a year. They're quite popular with the middle schoolers.
"We usually get 400 or 500 kids, and it's well supervised," she said.
The sheriff's reserves and staff from Events Services will be on hand. Dress is casual, and admission is $5. The Community Center is at the corner of Roop and William streets. For details, call 887-2290, ext. 101.
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For everybody other than middle schoolers -though they're welcome, too - there will be a Valentine's Day poetry reading from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Comma Coffee.
The event will feature readings by several of the Ash Canyon Poets, a local poetry group.
"Each of us will be reading poems by well-known poets - maybe a nice love poem - and then some of our own," said member Asha Anderson. She's thinking of something by Pablo Neruda or the kama sutra.
There is no admission fee. Hot drinks and other goodies will be sold at the coffee shop. Comma Coffee is at 312 S. Carson St. Call 782-0886.
Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.